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Best Hair Straighteners
A decent hair straightener should be able to turn even the bounciest curls into sleek, straight hair while protecting it from heat damage. Choosing the right hair styling tool is important, whether you’re looking for a straightener for curly hair, a hair straightening brush, or something else to transform your locks. Continue reading...
Best Hair Straightener
The ceramic-coated titanium floating plates on the SAS Professional Hair Straightener easily straighten and curl hair of all types - it’s gentle on fine hair while helping manage frizz in thick, coarse hair.
Price (RRP) $189.95
- Build Quality4.1 (34)
- Value for Money4.3 (34)
- Ease of Use4.5 (34)
- Hair Care 4.5 (27)
- FeaturesAuto Shut-off and Universal Voltage
- Min Temperature50 °C
- Max Temperature232 °C
- Colour / FinishWhite, Pink, Gold, Dark Purple, or Matt Black
The Karmin G3 Salon Pro Hair Styling Iron has tourmaline ceramic plates and a variety of temperature settings to help you straighten, curl, and add volume to all kinds of hair.
Price (RRP) $199.95
- Build Quality1.5 (2)
- Value for Money1.0 (2)
- Ease of Use1.0 (2)
- FeaturesAuto Shut-off, Storage Case and Universal Voltage
- Min Temperature120 °C
- Max Temperature240 °C
- Colour / FinishBlack, Blue, Pink, Purple, White
- Cord Length3 m
With floating tourmaline ceramic plates, temperature control, and an array of safety features, the OzHead MKIII lets you straighten and curl hair effortlessly while reducing frizz.
Price (RRP) $299.95
- Build Quality3.7 (3)
- Value for Money4.0 (4)
- Ease of Use4.0 (4)
- Hair Care 3.0 (1)
- FeaturesAuto Shut-off and Universal Voltage
- Min Temperature80 °C
- Max Temperature230 °C
- Colour / FinishRed, Black, Green
- Cord Length3 m
GlamPalm
· includes 7 listingsFast-heating and versatile, the GlamPalm Hair Straightener has an array of impressive features to rival other notable irons on the market.
Price (RRP) $199.00 to $340.00
- Build Quality3.7 (35)
- Value for Money3.6 (34)
- Ease of Use4.1 (33)
- Hair Care 4.1 (22)
- FeaturesUniversal Voltage, Auto Shut-off and Storage Case
- Max Temperature195 °C to 200 °C
- Number of Heat Settings2 to 11
- Colour / FinishBlack and White, Black
- Cord Length2.7 m to 3 m
The Cloud Nine Wide Iron is designed for those with thick, long hair. With floating ceramic plates and variable temperature control, it lets you achieve a sleek, frizz-free look in the comfort of your bathroom.
Price (RRP) $340.00
- Build Quality4.4 (14)
- Value for Money4.1 (14)
- Ease of Use4.8 (14)
- Hair Care 4.7 (11)
- FeaturesUniversal Voltage
- Min Temperature100 °C
- Max Temperature200 °C
- Colour / FinishBlack
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Suitable for all hair types, the ghd Original IV Styler has ceramic plates that are gentle on your locks and a 30 second heat-up time that lets you quickly get ready and stay one step ahead of the morning rush.
Price (RRP) $215.00
Price$195Ghd
- Build Quality4.3 (33)
- Value for Money4.0 (33)
- Ease of Use4.4 (32)
- Hair Care 4.1 (26)
- FeaturesAuto Shut-off and Universal Voltage
- Max Temperature185 °C
- Colour / FinishBlack
- Cord Length2.7 m
Muk Style Stick
· includes 2 listingsIf you want salon-quality results at home, the Muk Style Sticks can help you achieve that; they have variable heat settings, are effective on thick, curly hair, and are a breeze to use.
Price (RRP) $199.95 to $249.95
- Build Quality4.0 (23)
- Value for Money3.9 (23)
- Ease of Use4.2 (22)
- Hair Care 3.8 (21)
- FeaturesUniversal Voltage and Auto Shut-off
- Max Temperature230 °C
- Colour / FinishBlack
- Cord Length3 m
Silver Bullet Keratin 230
· includes 2 listingsYou can choose from ceramic or titanium plates when you buy the Silver Bullet Keratin 230. Combined with adjustable temperature, user-friendly controls, and a selection of complementary accessories, the straightener lets you style the way you prefer.
Price (RRP) $229.96 to $239.95
Price$264.95Bing Lee
- Build Quality3.6 (10)
- Value for Money3.5 (11)
- Ease of Use3.7 (11)
- Hair Care 4.1 (7)
- FeaturesUniversal Voltage and Storage Case
- Max Temperature230 °C
- Colour / FinishBlack
Straighten, curl, or create natural waves with the ghd Gold Styler. It has heat sensors to maintain even heat distribution and a rounded barrel so that you can consistently achieve your favourite everyday look.
Price (RRP) $290.00
Price$280Ghd
- Build Quality3.8 (32)
- Value for Money3.4 (34)
- Ease of Use4.1 (32)
- Hair Care 4.1 (23)
- FeaturesAuto Shut-off and Universal Voltage
- Max Temperature185 °C
- Number of Heat Settings1
- Colour / FinishBlack
- Cord Length2.7 m
The L’Oreal Steampod uses steam technology and an integrated comb to detangle hair, style it, and minimise heat damage.
Price (RRP) $280.00
- Build Quality3.3 (18)
- Value for Money3.2 (19)
- Ease of Use3.8 (18)
- Hair Care 2.9 (13)
- FeaturesSteam Technology
- Min Temperature180 °C
- Max Temperature210 °C
- Number of Heat Settings3
- Colour / FinishWhite
The Cloud Nine Original Iron’s $340 price point leads to high expectations. But do its offerings of mineral-infused heating plates, adjustable temperature settings and efficient straightening make it worthwhile?
Price (RRP) $340.00
- Build Quality4.0 (32)
- Value for Money3.8 (32)
- Ease of Use4.5 (31)
- Hair Care 4.3 (29)
- FeaturesStorage Case
- Min Temperature100 °C
- Max Temperature200 °C
- Number of Heat Settings7
- Colour / FinishBlack
Remington Keratin & Argan Oil Nourish
· includes 3 listingsPrice (RRP) $69.95 to $79.95
Price from$69.95Bing Lee
- Build Quality4.6 (13)
- Value for Money4.0 (13)
- Ease of Use4.3 (12)
- Hair Care 4.0 (10)
- FeaturesUniversal Voltage and Auto Shut-off
- Max Temperature230 °C
- Colour / FinishGold
Price (RRP) $320.00
Price$275Ghd
- Build Quality4.7 (3)
- Value for Money4.7 (3)
- Ease of Use4.7 (3)
- Hair Care 4.0 (1)
- FeaturesAuto Shut-off and Universal Voltage
- Max Temperature185 °C
- Colour / FinishBlack
- Cord Length2.7 m
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Types of hair straighteners
Hair straighteners are often categorised by the material of their plate - most will have plates either made from ceramic, tourmaline, or titanium. You can sometimes find aluminium, alloy, or glass plates, but these are extremely damaging and inefficient, so they’re not recommended.
Ceramic
Ceramic plates are the most common plate material found in straighteners, and they’re effective at straightening most hair types.
Pros
Cons
You can also find ceramic-coated plates which have all the benefits of a ceramic hair straightener, but the coating can chip away over time and result in uneven heating, which is why this is only really found in more budget straighteners.
Tourmaline
Tourmaline-coated, or ionic plates, are negatively charged when heated and heat the hair from inside the hair shaft, which heats up hair more quickly. These plates are most suitable for damaged hair.
Pros
Cons
Titanium
Titanium plates tend to be the most efficient, safe, and effective plate type available, making them great for making coarse, curly hair straight in one pass and reducing overall styling time.
Pros
Cons
What straighteners do salons use?
Titanium straighteners are usually the preferred straightener for salons and professional hair stylists, however this doesn’t necessarily mean that you should go out and buy a salon-quality titanium iron for great results, as there may be other materials that are better suited for your hair type.
How do I choose a good hair straightener?
Finding a good straightening hair product that can achieve salon-worthy results can be easier if you consider the following when you shop.
Plate type
If you’re looking for a flat iron, they’ll either have fixed or floating plates. Floating plates have the advantage of being able to move and adjust pressure on your hair, helping protect the hair shaft from damage.
This flexibility lets the plates better adjust to suit the style you’re going for, and does a better job at preventing snagging and tangling. You can find both single floating and dual floating plates, however dual floating tends to be more effective.
Flat ironing can damage hair if you overheat it, which is why straightening brushes that operate at a lower heat can be handy. These heated hair brushes detangle hair and can leave it smooth and shiny, and their reduced temperature makes them great for using on thin or damaged hair.
On the left: The Gold Styler ghd hair straightener with dual floating plates. On the right: The Remington Hair Straightener Keratin & Argan Oil Nourish Brush.
Plate size
A wide plate can shorten the time it takes to straighten your hair. They’re suitable for long, thick hair, as they straighten more hair with each pass.
Narrow plates are more suited to short or fine hair, as they apply less heat and therefore don’t damage the hair shaft as much. Slimmer plates are also easier to store and fit into your travel bag.
You can also find mini hair straighteners that are designed for travel - while they’re convenient, they’re usually not nearly as powerful as their full-sized counterparts.
Plate shape
A straightener with rounded edges at the top makes it easier to create curly hair. If a flat iron has straight edges, it will give you even straighter hair.
Features
There are some features to look out for that can make using your straightener a breeze.
- Cordless: A cordless hair straightener can be used anywhere, so you don’t need to position yourself next to a power outlet to use it.
- Universal voltage: This is handy if you think you’ll be taking your straightener with you when you travel overseas.
- Auto shut-off: If you’re a bit forgetful, looking for a straightener that automatically shuts off after a certain period of time can prevent it from starting a fire, or at the very least save you from being slapped with a big energy bill.
- Foldable handle: A folding handle makes your straightener more compact so that it takes up less space in your bathroom drawer or your luggage - no game of Tetris needed.
- Storage case: This makes it easy to transport your straightener.
- Steam technology: Some straighteners use steam as well as heated plates to straighten hair - steam hair straighteners are thought to be less damaging to your hair, more efficient to use, and more smoothing for the hair.
- Protective heat mat: Some straighteners come with a heat mat that you can rest the straightener on while it’s turned on, so you don’t have to worry about heat damaging your furniture.
- Infused plates: The plates on some straighteners are infused with hair-nourishing ingredients like keratin and argan oil, which help with repairing and protecting your hair.
- Wet-to-dry: A wet-to-dry straightener dries hair while you straighten it, however it’s still recommended to use it on damp hair, not when it’s sopping wet after you've just jumped out of the shower.
Temperature
Straighteners can go up to temperatures of 150 to 250°C, but just because you can get a super-hot iron, doesn’t mean that you need one.
People with fine or damaged hair may want to use a straightener at a lower heat, which is why a straightener with adjustable temperature settings may be useful to avoid burning your hair.
Some more high-end irons also have intelligent heat control, which has sensors in the plates that automatically adjust the temperature so that it's just hot enough to straighten hair without overheating it.
Heating time
Try and find a quality hair straightener in your budget with quick heat-up times that’s also efficient in straightening your hair. Some straighteners can fully heat up in under 30 seconds, however you should read reviews to see if the advertised heating time is accurate.
What else should I look for in reviews?
- How long it takes to style hair - bonus points if it only takes one pass to make hair completely straight.
- How gentle the straightener is with hair.
- The hair type and length of reviewers, so that you can see whether a product is right for your hair.
Ease of use
Check for the position of the controls - sometimes they’re fiddly and it can be easy to accidentally turn the straightener off while you’re using it. If you can, hold the straightener to see if you can easily adjust the controls with just one hand.
A swivel cord also makes using the hair straightener at any angle easier, as you won’t tangle up the cord when you move the iron around.
Price
A hair straightener can cost you anywhere from $20 to $700, with most costing somewhere between $50 to $300. We know, the huge difference in price points doesn’t make choosing an iron any easier, but if you want more “luxe” features like titanium plates and intelligent heat control, then expect to fork out more.
Although spending more can often get you a more effective and durable straightener, you can find high-quality straighteners at lower price points that do the job just fine.
The bottom line
Think about how often you use a straightener and what you intend to use it for, and you should be able to find a selection of irons that are fit-for-purpose.
If it’s easy to use, heats up quickly, doesn’t unnecessarily damage your hair, and gives you the look you’re after, then there’s a high chance it’s right for you.